T He Acid Rain Debate Essay

1168 words - 5 pages

Currently, acid rain is one of the global problems that human societies face. To solve the acid rain problem there must be an understanding of the effect of acid rain and the changes that could be made to the sources of air pollution that cause the problem. Understanding these things help leaders make better decisions about how to control air pollution and therefore how to reduce or even eliminate acid rain. In the early 1970s, no country had a policy to address this problem (Forster). Nowadays, most if not all countries follow the international policy issued by the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) (Forster). In my opinion, issuing an international policy to limiting one precursor pollutant at a time and to use biofuels or alternative means instead of those that produce the precursor pollutants to reduce or even solve the acid rain problem.
Acid rain is defined as the phenomenon which sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides undergoes complex chemical processes and may dissolve in rain droplets to form sulfuric and nitric acids (Willyard). Due to sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides production of acid rain, they are considered the primary pollutants also known as the precursor pollutants. Sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides are also emitted when natural gas, coal, and oil are burn. Natural gas, coal and oil supply almost all the electricity that powers modern life.
Meanwhile acid rain refers to rainfall that is more acidic, the acidity of a solution can be measured by its pH value. This means the measurement of the hydrogen ion content of a solution. The pH scale ranges from 1 which is very acidic to 14 which are very alkaline (Krogh). When there is a pH value of seven it means that it is a neutral solution. In addition, the pH scale is logarithmic thus a pH of 5 is ten times more acidic as a pH of 6. Despite having the pH scale as a reference point in identifying acid rain, there is no universal pH value to identify acid rain globally (Forster). The different amount of precursor pollutants varies from country to country thus prevents a solidify agreement of what the universal pH value should be. Regardless of not having a universal pH value, acid rain was acknowledged as a problem due to its pollutants discharged that can be spread from country to neighboring countries and these pollutants can’t be stop physically from entering their territories.
Governments addressed the problem of transboundary air pollution also known as acid rain through a series of binding policy agreements among many countries. The problem of acid rain is subject to international regulations under the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP) and its protocols (Forster). Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air pollution is a successful example of international cooperation and the first legally binding treaty for the protection of the environment. Currently it is ratified by 51 parties. Over the following years, governments...

Find Another Essay On THe Acid Rain Debate

1004 words - 4 pages
Acid Rain: Scourge from the Skies
“North Americans have been smelting ore and burning fossil fuels for generations. In the past, the gases went up ordinary chimneys or small smoke stacks, to descend upon near by areas and pollute them,” states author, Robert Collins. Almost everyone knows what acid rain is and has a vague idea of the consequences that exist as a cause of it. Most people however do not realize the

3033 words - 12 pages
In recent years, a great amount of attention has been focused on environmental issues. Nightly we are informed of yet another creature in danger of extinction. Still, despite this increased awareness, the problem remains. One facet of this overwhelming dilemma is the problem of acid rain. Pollution has caused acid rain, which is destroying the ecosystem. Acid rain refers to all types of precipitation -rain, snow, sleet, hail and fog that have a

653 words - 3 pages
THE THREAT OF ACID RAIN 1 Review of LiteratureOver the years, scientists, foresters, and other nature enthusiasts have found significant declines in nature. Trees, plants, animals; leaves and needles falling off when they should be healthy; even animals migrating to new places or dying off when things seem fine. In extreme cases, individual parts of forests seemed to die off without any obvious reasons. Problems appeared in much of China and mid

669 words - 3 pages
Acid Rain is a leading cause to deforestation and other harmful effects to the environment. Acid Rain is produced when coal, oil and gas are burned; they generate sulfur dioxide, nitric oxide and nitrous dioxide that rise into the atmosphere. The oxides then go through chemical reactions and the end result is acid rain or simply a lower pH level then normal or naturally. The lowest recorded pH level in the base of clouds in the northeast is 2.6

1242 words - 5 pages
What are the Effects of Acid Rain on Germination
What are the Effects of Acid Rain on Germination?
PURPOSE
The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect� of acid on seed germination.
I became interested in this idea because I know that� acid rain is becoming� a factor in pollution around the world.� I know this from books I've studied and news articles I�ve read.
The information gained from this experiment may

944 words - 4 pages
"Acid Rain," or more precisely acidic precipitation, is the term used to describerainfall that has a pH level of less than 5.6--a pH of 7 being neutral. This form of airpollution is currently a subject of great controversy because of the damage it does tot he environment and property worldwide. For the last ten years, this occurrence has brought destruction to thousands of lakes and streams in the United States, Canada, and parts of Europe. It

1263 words - 5 pages
Acid rain is a serious problem with disastrous effects. Each daythis serious problem increases, many people believe that this issueis too small to deal with right now this issue should be met headon and solved before it is too late. In the following paragraphs I will be discussing the impact has on the wildlife and how our atmosphere is being destroyed by acid rain.CAUSESAcid rain is a cancer eating into the face of Eastern Canada and the North

984 words - 4 pages
Acid rain is caused when rain, fog, or snow passes through a layer of pollution. Acid rain is just a common term meaning acid deposition. Acid deposition is divided into two types, wet and dry. Wet acid deposition includes rain, fog, and snow. The potency of the acid rain depends on how acidic the water is to start and the chemistry and buffering capacity of the soil. Dry acid deposition includes acidic gases and particles. Acid rain occurs when

6933 words - 28 pages
Background knowledgeRainwater is always slightly acidic, as carbon dioxide in the air dissolves in rain to form carbonic acid. Acid rain is rain, snow or fog that is polluted by acid in the atmosphere and damages the environment. Two common air pollutants acidify rain: sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOX). When these substances are released into the atmosphere, they can be carried over long distances by prevailing winds before

1114 words - 4 pages
Based on research, by the year of 2005 more than 95,000 lakes and streams in the Northern American regions will be damaged by acid rain. Acid Rain is rainfall or any other from of precipitation that has a pH less than 5.6. Acid rains are very destructive. It's form when oxides of nitrogen and sulfite combine with water and moisture in the air to form Nitric ad Sulfuric acid. These acid precipitations can carry far from their origins. Most of the

3296 words - 13 pages
Acid Rain and its causesWhat is acid rain? Acid rain is rain that is more acidic than normal. Acid rain is a complicated problem. It is not a recent phenomenon. In the 17th century, scientists noted the ill effects that industry and acidic pollution was having on vegetation and people. However, the term acid rain was not coined until two centuries later when Angus Smith published a book called 'Acid Rain' in 1872.Robert Angus Smith - the

Similar Essays

2176 words - 9 pages
Acid Rain is a serious problem with disastrous effects. Every day this problem increases. Many believe that this issue is too small to deal with, but if the acid rain problem is not met with head on, the effects on people, plants, animals, and the economy will only worsen. In the following paragraphs you will learn what acid rain is, the effects it has on human life, animals, the economy, the economic costs, and what is being done to help to

2251 words - 9 pages
in Accounting Estimates and Errors (E&Y, 2010). In addition, there remains a number of existing standards that provide authorative guidance on relevant accounting on which companies can draw to form their policies for GHG related transactions such as IAS 2, 20, 37, 38, and 39 (KPMG, 2008).
The U.S. Cap and Trade Schemes: Acid Rain Program and NOx Budget Trading Program
In the United States, the EPA is currently monitoring sulphur dioxide

1474 words - 6 pages
How Acid Rain Affects the Aquatic Ecosystem
Abstract
This paper shows that acid rain is a reality. It is destroying our freshwater ecosystems and must be stopped in order to save them. If the problem is not fixed soon the aquatic ecosystems will be destroyed.
Table of Contents
1. What is acid rain?
2. Acidification of Freshwater
3. Effects of Freshwater Acidification
4. Where is Affected the most?
5. What is being done

2667 words - 11 pages
In my country, when people talk about acid rain, they will immediately associate it with alopecia. People believe that acid rain has some toxic substances which can erode human scalps. If people are in contact with acid rain for a long time, they will gradually lose their hair. Hence, everyone always opens an umbrella to avoid the damage of acid rain regardless of whether it is heavy or light. However, when I came to America, I found a